Tony Mowbray has spoken with Middlesbrough about the vacant manager's job, skysports.com reports. It is understood that the Teessider held talks with chairman Steve Gibson on Sunday about taking over from Gordon Strachan, who left the Riverside hot-seat last week.

Also set for talks is former Boro midfielder Paul Ince, who is understood to be travelling to meet the club on Monday.

Phil Brown and Gary Megson are also reported to be on Gibson's short-list of four candidates, which has been largely determined by the fact that Boro will not pay substantial compensation for any prospective candidate.

Mowbray is still on 'gardening leave' from Celtic and an agreement would have to be reached between them and Boro, but that does not appear to be a major obstacle should the former Middlesbrough defender, as expected, be offered the post.

Gibson would appear to want to have his new man in charge ahead of this weekend's now crucial clash with bottom-of-the-table Bristol City at The Riverside.